In this article you will learn:
- How to recognize Error 404
- How to solve Error 404
- How to set a custom error page
- Frequently asked questions
404 Not Found Error
Error 404 means that a file or another resource is unavailable. If the entire requested page is missing, you will recognize Error 404 by the text Not found in the heading.
Some websites may have a custom 404 page set up. If you want to create such a custom page, follow the section Setting a custom 404 Error page.
Images and other resources that could not be loaded also return Error 404. You can find the complete list in the browser’s developer tools (typically the F12 key) in the console (Console), or in the Network tab. To load the Network data, refresh the page.
It is similar to Error 403 Forbidden, but usually fewer critical files are missing, such as index.html, index.php, or .htaccess.
Solving Error 404
If a file from your webhosting is not loading correctly, follow these steps:
- Check via FTP whether it really exists on the webhosting.
- Also verify the size of the uploaded file; a damaged or only partially uploaded file can also cause Error 404.
- Check the path to the given file, i.e. whether its actual location matches the location in the web application code.
If you are using content from another source (most often fonts, scripts, css), check its availability (both temporary and long-term). If the source is unavailable for a long time, consider changing it.
Mixed content
Another common source of problems is so-called mixed content, when the website loads over the secure HTTPS protocol, but some resources try to load over insecure HTTP.
Go through the website’s source files and fix all addresses with http:// to https://.
If you are using a content management system, such as WordPress, use a tool for fixing mixed content (for WordPress: Tools Site Health).
WEDOS Protection and Let’s Encrypt
If you observe Error 404 on webhosting with a domain on WEDOS Protection ⧉, check whether at least 90 minutes have passed since HTTPS certificate activation. If not, wait and try reloading the page without cache using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + R.
If the problem persists, make sure that the DNS records and the current IP addresses of your proxy match.
Setting a custom 404 Error page
If you want to display your own error message when the page is not found, follow these steps:
- Create your own error page, for example 404.html, and upload it via FTP to the website root directory (the same place where you have the index.html or index.php file).
- Open the .htaccess file in the same folder. If there is none, create one (the name includes the dot at the beginning and has no extension).
- Add the code to the end of the .htaccess file content:
ErrorDocument 404 /404.html
If your document is named something other than 404.html, change the file name in the code.
Frequently asked questions
None of the solutions helped me, what should I do now?
If a file on the webhosting is causing Error 404, activate temporary FTP access for support according to this guide and use the form ⧉ to request a check. Include the website name and the addresses of the unavailable files.
We cannot check external resources in any way; please ask their operator to check them. If they request the webhosting IP address, you will find it in the service detail ⧉ in the Service addresses table.
Does Error 404 occur anywhere other than at VEDOS?
Yes, it is a common error caused by files being unavailable on the server. The server (webhosting) is working without problems; the fix consists of uploading the missing files to the website and ensuring the resources are available via the correct protocol.